Future Transport for New Zealand

What we’re doing

We are exploring what kinds of transport systems New Zealand might use in the future, with a special focus on energy-efficient transport. This research involves a structured information-gathering method called a ‘Delphi’ to see what experts think are the global innovations that might shape transport of the future, as well as trends and potential shocks that could lead to changes in transport systems.

Firstly we ran an International Delphi during 2013 with transport experts from many parts of the globe. They were interviewed about their perspectives, and then they took part in several on-line surveys, designed so that each survey built upon the findings of the one before. We discuss some of the findings in this presentation and journal article .

Following the international Delphi, we carried out a similar exercise involving New Zealand transport experts (from the transport sector, councils, government and researchers). Over four surveys we asked about things like their perspectives on trends and shocks that might affect NZ’s transport system, and what NZ’s future transport system might look like. Some of the findings are reported in this presentation and this report.

What we’ve found out so far

Some highlights from the International Delphi:

Transport systems are the interactions of infrastructure, fuels, vehicles and other technologies, and the behaviours and expectations of firms, governments and the public. These interactions can create interdependencies which can be very hard to change. However, there are many new developments occurring internationally which are starting to create changes in transport systems, or are likely to in the near future. These may impact on New Zealand, and include:

New trends in travel behaviour, such as

‘peak car’, where people are starting (on average) to drive less distance

young people getting licenses later, being less likely to own a car, and driving less distance than people of that age did previously

in some cities, people using shared cars rather than owning their own cars

inland ports which consolidate freight and make multi-modal systems easier

using information technology to design better routes for freight vehicles and matching loads

smart logistics incorporating rail for long-distance, and cargo trams or electric trucks for local delivery

In the New Zealand Delphi, we wanted to gain an understanding of expert views on the drivers of change to New Zealand’s transport system. The identified the following trends, innovations and step-changes:

Trends:

Rising fuel prices were identified as the trend most likely to become widespread within 10 years, and to transform the transport system away from BAU in the long term. An ageing population and an increasing percentage of the population in urban areas were also important trends likely to become widespread within 10 years.

Urban form that supports active transport (walking and cycling) and public transport (bus and train), and increasing investment in public transport infrastructure were thought to be important trends that would transform the transport system away from BAU.

Innovations:

Participants identified ultrafast broadband and high quality videoconferencing as the most likely innovation to become widespread within 10 years.

Demand management through road pricing, multi-modal integrated public transport systems and bicycle infrastructure were thought to be the most likely innovations to transform the transport system away from BAU.

Step changes:

The likely step changes to become widespread in the next decade were identified as: spikes in the price of liquid fossil fuels, political instability in oil rich countries, and constraints in oil supply.

Sustainability becoming a major driver of policy at all levels of NZ government and for business, followed by constrains in oil supply, and political instability in oil rich countries are the step changes deemed most likely to transform New Zealand’s transport system away from BAU in the long term.

Participants were also asked to identify the timeframes in which these changes were likely to occur, and the trends, innovations and step changes requiring intervention. These findings and more are available in the published report.